[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E752-E753]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2016

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MAC THORNBERRY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2015

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1735) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2016 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Chair, I ask that the following exchange of 
letters be submitted during consideration of H.R. 1735:

         House of Representatives, Committee on Science, Space, 
           and Technology,
                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Thornberry: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 1735, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. This legislation 
     contains subject matter within the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. However, in 
     order to expedite floor consideration of this important 
     legislation, the Committee waives consideration of the bill.
       The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology takes this 
     action only with the

[[Page E753]]

     understanding that the Committee's jurisdictional interests 
     over this and similar legislation are in no way diminished or 
     altered.
       The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment 
     to any House-Senate conference on this legislation and 
     requests your support if such a request is made. Finally, I 
     would appreciate your including this letter in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 1735 on the 
     House Floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Lamar Smith,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Lamar Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, House 
         of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2016. I agree that the Committee on Science, Space, and 
     Technology has valid jurisdictional claims to certain 
     provisions in this important legislation, and I am most 
     appreciative of your decision not to request a referral in 
     the interest of expediting consideration of the bill. I agree 
     that by foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on 
     Science, Space, and Technology is not waiving its 
     jurisdiction. Further, this exchange of letters will be 
     included in the committee report on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

         House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and 
           Infrastructure,
                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Thornberry: I write concerning H.R. 1735, the 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, as 
     amended. There are certain provisions in the legislation that 
     fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure.
       However, in order to expedite this legislation for floor 
     consideration, the Committee will forgo action on this bill. 
     This, of course, is conditional on our mutual understanding 
     that forgoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice 
     the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or 
     to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters 
     contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within 
     the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. I request you urge the 
     Speaker to name members of the Committee to any conference 
     committee named to consider such provisions.
       Please place a copy of this letter and your response 
     acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the committee 
     report on H.R. 1735 and into the Congressional Record during 
     consideration of the measure on the House floor.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Bill Shuster,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Bill Shuster,
     Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
         House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2016. I agree that the Committee on Transportation and 
     Infrastructure has valid jurisdictional claims to certain 
     provisions in this important legislation, and I am most 
     appreciative of your decision not to request a referral in 
     the interest of expediting consideration of the bill. I agree 
     that by foregoing a sequential referral, the Committee on 
     Transportation and Infrastructure is not waiving its 
     jurisdiction. Further, this exchange of letters will be 
     included in the committee report on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on ways and means,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman, Committee on Armed Services, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Thornberry: I write to confirm our mutual 
     understanding regarding H.R. 1735, the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. This legislation 
     contains subject matter within the jurisdiction of the 
     Committee on Ways and Means. However, in order to expedite 
     floor consideration of this important legislation, the 
     committee waives consideration of the bill.
       The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action only with 
     the understanding that the committee's jurisdictional 
     interests over this and similar legislation are in no way 
     diminished or altered.
       The committee also reserves the right to seek appointment 
     to any House-Senate conference on this legislation and 
     requests your support if such a request is made. Finally, I 
     would appreciate your including this letter in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 1735 on the 
     House Floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters.
           Sincerely,
                                                        Paul Ryan,
     Chairman.
                                  ____

                                         House of Representatives,


                                  Committee on Armed Services,

                                      Washington, DC, May 1, 2015.
     Hon. Paul Ryan,
     Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 
     1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
     2016. I agree that the Committee on Ways and Means has a 
     valid jurisdictional claim to a provision in this important 
     legislation, and I am most appreciative of your decision not 
     to request a referral in the interest of expediting 
     consideration of the bill. I agree that by foregoing a 
     sequential referral, the Committee on Ways and Means is not 
     waiving its jurisdiction. Further, this exchange of letters 
     will be included in the committee report on the bill.
           Sincerely,
                                    William M. ``Mac'' Thornberry,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________